Family Dentistry and Prevention

Gum Disease

Each tooth has a root which is embedded in the jaw bone. The root is anchored to the bone by tiny fibres. The jaw bone is covered by soft gum tissue.

Gum disease describes swelling, soreness of infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. The 2 main types of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Gingivitis describes the inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums can appear red and swollen and may bleed on brushing. Periodontal disease is due to long standing gingivitis. There are many types of periodontal disease but essentially they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As the disease progresses the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, which can make the teeth loose.

Unfortunately gum disease can progress painlessly so this can result in unknown damage. If the bacteria are more active, then your gums can appear sore and eventually gum abscesses may develop. It is important to treat gum disease sooner so that treatment can be more effective.